Studying Tips: How to Stay Resilient During Exams

By WR!TERS@WORK

Taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is the first major milestone in your child’s education journey. During this period of heightened stress, it is vital to manage their health and wellbeing by building resilience. This will tide them through the rigors of revision, entering the examination and receiving their results. WRITERS AT WORK and its team of talented teachers offer some of the best English enrichment courses for primary and secondary school students in Singapore, and would love nothing more than to share some tips on how you can support your child through their upcoming exams.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Every child’s learning ability is different. As a parent, it is important for you to acknowledge that and be honest with yourself about what your child can achieve. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your child to understand his/her thoughts and help him/her set realistic goals. You should also work out a timetable/schedule to help your child achieve these goals, being pragmatic when allocating time for assignments and revision. This ensures that your child is managing their time effectively, not leaving revision till the very last minute and ending up underperforming during the examinations. If you’re feeling uncertain how best to go about setting realistic academic goals, please feel free to reach out to our WRITERS AT WORK educators who would be delighted to offer consultations for your child.

2. Learn Actively

Every child has a different learning style, and it is important to identify theirs. There are 4 main types of learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Read/Write and Kinaesthetic. For instance, when engaging an essay question that reads, “Write a composition of at least 150 words about doing the right thing”, some students may find it easier having a discussion on the topic to brainstorm ideas, while others might instead prefer to draw a mind map to help visualize and process their thoughts.

Active learning goes a long way in honing a student’s critical thinking skills, which in turn activates their higher-order thinking. This is because of the higher engagement level which leads to better retention of information. That being said, a combination of both passive and active learning will be best in your child’s education journey. Helping your child find that delicate balance in their journey of learning is what we WRITERS AT WORK do best. When notes and textbooks yield little progress for your child, turn away from passive reading and try alternative methods to help your child engage with the content on a deeper level like practicing past year papers or even using flashcards – which parents can collaborate with their children to design flashcards tailored to their individual needs.

For instance, create a stack of flashcards with questions from the Grammar MCQ in Paper 2 Booklet A. Write the answer at the back of the flashcard with an explanation if needed.

Q1: My sister has an interest __________ astronomy and often takes pictures of the stars and the moon.

1) in

2) on

3) for

4) towards

Q2: There were many people at the conference, some of __________ were famous chefs from Vietnam and Japan.

1) who

2) which

2) whom

3) whose

Do the same for other sections like the Vocabulary section. Remember to select a range of questions to cover a wider scope.

Q1: The fortune teller __________ that the city would vanish in ten years’ time.

1) guessed

2) imagined

3) predicted

4) estimated

Q2: The villager vomited several times after drinking water that was __________.

1) septic

2) infectious

3) contagious

4) contaminated

After strenuous studying sessions stuck at the desk, your child may find themselves at their personal limitations of processing any more information. Encourage him/her to take a break and engage a different part of the brain that doesn’t involve similar cerebral tasks. Do simple activities like taking a walk in the park, playing musical instruments, or even rewarding them with a few minutes of playtime. This allows children to return to their studies with a fresh mind, increasing overall learning efficacy.

3. Ensure Mental and Physical Well-Being

During the hectic examination season, it is all too common for students to neglect their physical and mental wellbeing in pursuit of better grades. However, self care is absolutely essential in preventing the risk of burnout, or  worse still, falling physically ill during the examination period – a detriment to all their hard work.

Ensure that your child is eating healthily – focus on having balanced meals and eat more whole foods. Having a nourished body and mind will ensure that your child is able to have a sharp mind and strong immune system. Moreover, encourage your child to get some exercise in order to remain active and reduce stress. Physical activity has been scientifically proven to improve memory and learning, while the endorphins released when exercising can help improve mood. Adequate amount of sleep is also imperative for your child to have a clear mind on the day of the examination, and for their growth and development as a whole.

4) Employ a Growth Mindset

Being resilient requires one to have positive outlooks when facing challenges and setbacks. However, it is common for your child to feel disappointed or dejected at times when he/she is unable to meet their expectations. There might be moments of self-doubt and comments such as: “I will never be able to pass this subject”. WRITERS AT WORK teachers proactively step in to establish a strong support system of education and encouragement. As parents, be patient and instill upon your child a mindset centered around opportunities for growth, such as learning to embrace setbacks and how to find their footing again. This ensures that they are able to move forward, rebuild confidence and validate their efforts.

Attain Stellar Results with W@W!

If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WR!TERS@WORK has expanded to 8 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WR!TERS@WORK!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Is It Possible to Fail PSLE?

No, it is not possible to fail the PSLE. The scores from the PSLE are simply used as a placement measure to decide which secondary school your child will attend.

2. How Long Should You Study for PSLE?

Parents should allocate about one to two years to prepare for the PSLE, as subjects like English require sustained effort and cannot be effectively learned through last-minute cramming.

3. Is PSLE Compulsory?

Yes, the PSLE is mandatory for all students to enter secondary school in Singapore.

4. How Should You Study for PSLE?

Parents should compile a comprehensive list of topics their child needs to study for all PSLE subjects. Hiring a tutor or using workbooks and past exam papers can help students familiarise themselves with the PSLE format and boost their confidence.